Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Limited CS Department May 11, 2023

By (Computer Science, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/02/2023 to 06/06/2023 with

Dartmouth College: New Hampshire - Domestic Exchange Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Liberal arts educations are beneficial for soft skills. If there's a hard skill I want to learn, I need to teach myself. I would have had a better, more beneficial/useful curriculum if I had just stayed at Wellesley.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I wanted to come to Dartmouth to study CS, but unfortunately all the courses I wanted to take were either cancelled for various reasons or I ended up testing out of most of the other CS courses offered. Overall, my curriculum was disorganized, disappointing, boring, disengaging, and didn't prepare me for my career as a fullstack web developer.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

it was fine, nothing special. I didn't have much support from Dartmouth.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived at Phi Tau, an independent Greek house, so I had a great time in a controlled and safe environment without worrying about my dorm mates smoking or drinking near me. I guarantee I would have had the worst experience of my life in the dorms.

* Food:

Food was fine. Same as Wellesley, nothing special.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I'm from Maine, so New Hampshire is very familar for me.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any issues.

* Safety:

Lots of hazing and drinking culture. I was able to stay sheltered at Phi Tau, but be careful.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I would have chosen a program with more CS opportunities. My options were limited from COVID regulations in traveling abroad, so I worked with the programs I could, but I was overall bored.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $20

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Living in a house instead of a dorm
* What could be improved?
  • More CS courses offered
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Liberal arts educations are beneficial for soft skills. If there's a hard skill I want to learn, I need to teach myself. I would have had a better, more beneficial/useful curriculum if I had just stayed at Wellesley.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!